Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
'Tifway 419' (Hybrid Bermuda)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, tolerates high heat, moderate cold tolerance down to around 0°F to 10°F before going dormant.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with a vibrant green color during the growing season. Grows low to the ground and spreads rapidly. Goes completely dormant and turns straw-brown under frost conditions. Seed heads feature 3 to 7 digitate spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium (2-3mm wide), flat, tapered to a pointed tip, grayish-green to medium green, rolled in the bud, with a hairy ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons. High drought tolerance, rapid wear recovery, and moderate-to-high thatch production.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm temperate and tropical regions.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a very dense, tight sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight). Moderate watering needs once established, with exceptional drought tolerance (goes dormant under extreme drought). Prefers well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow low (0.5 to 1.5 inches) frequently. High fertilizer requirements (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually for optimal appearance). Requires regular dethatching, core aeration, and high overall maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, excellent recovery, good salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance, highly invasive into flower beds due to aggressive stolons.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes, low wildlife food value compared to native grasses, often managed intensively in lawns.